Hemipelvectomy. Postoperative rehabilitation assessed on the basis of 41 cases

Rehabilitation was evaluated on the basis of 41 consecutive hemipelvectomies for malignant tumours. Owing to early metastasization and death, 11 patients were not supplied with prostheses, while prosthetic fitting was attempted in the remaining 30. Of this number 27 completed prosthetic training, with the result that 15 used their prosthesis, while 12 discarded it after some time, six because of poor general health owing to recurrence of the tumours and six because they felt that the prosthesis was too heavy and difficult to wear. Twenty-three returned to work. After elimination of the most severely tumour-affected patients, there were 19 one-year survivors without recurrence. Thirteen of them were using their prosthesis every day, and thirteen had gone back to work. Serious mental sequelae were found in five patients, including four with long-lasting exogenous depressions and one with anxiety neurosis.